Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) stiff-arms away from a tackle by St. Louis Rams defensive end James Hall (96) during the first half at Qwest Field. / Joe Nicholson, US PRESSWIRE

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

PHOENIX -- Jim Brown can't agree with members the running back fraternity who have bashed the NFL rule proposal that would penalize players for striking opponents with the crown of their helmet in the open field.

The rule proposal, which is expected to be voted on by NFL owners before the conclusion of league meetings on Wednesday, is widely considered as targeted at running backs.

Brown, arguably the greatest runner ever, says the rule wouldn't have applied to him -- or many other great backs.

"I'm going to be very honest with you: I didn't use my head," Brown said. "I used my forearm. And the palm of my hand. And my shoulders. And my shoulder pads. I wasn't putting my head into too much of anything. I don't think that sounds like a good idea to me. What is my guarantee that my head is going to be strong enough to hurt somebody else, and not hurt myself?"

Brown won a record eight NFL rushing titles in his nine seasons and retired as the league's all-time leading rusher with 12,312 yards.

Although mindful of the NFL's efforts to increase safety, he wonders why there's much debate about the issue. Runners would be penalized 15 yards for an infraction.

Brown, 77, said he typically doesn't see many runners use the crown of their helmet while running in the open field.

"It's something that came out of the clear blue sky for me," Brown said. "I have no concept of anybody that I've ever broken bread with -- and I see players all the time -- talking about using their head, (while) running the football.

"I've seen Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, Marcus Allen, Franco Harris -- we were all together at the Super Bowl -- and no one talks about using their head."

Still, there are apparently enough cases that compelled the league's competition committee to draft a rule. The league said medical research supports the measure. And some of the anecdotal evidence includes Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray using the tactic in the open field and current Browns star Trent Richardson has been punishing opponents with helmet-to-helmet blows on inside runs.

Owners discussed the rule during a session on Tuesday morning, but after spirited debate did not take a vote. It is expected that it will be voted on Wednesday.

"The league is genuinely trying to address safety issues," Brown said. "The commissioner is dead serious about that. Now how they do that and the rules that they make will always be controversial. There's always more than one point of view. So I don't have any answers to any of this, because a lot of it is what the doctors found out."